Flexible connection



Patented Bec. 27, 1927.

urrsn srArEs PATENT oFF-1er,

wrLLIAMA. Moena ann JAMES n. OBRIEN, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

- FLEXIBLE CONNECTION.

Application filed Ju1y'5, 1923. Serial No. 649,566.

with precision for communicating with` the steam dome, the expedient otproviding a flexible connection to the steam dome has been tried. Hose has been provided for this purpose, but has proven very unsatisfactory for various reasons. Sturdier constructions have also been tried, but as heretofore known and used have been so heavy and bulky that the workmen have been very rel uctanty to use same.

Though the present invention will be de scribed particularly with reference to locomotive connections, it will be clear as the description proceeds 4that the invention is equally applicable to other purposes, as, for example, the lilling ot' tank cars.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible connection which is light in weight and which may be readily manipulated.

A `further object isv to provide a flexible connection which may be made up ot parts readily purchasable in the open market, which is simple to assemble and easy to operate. 4

l A further object is to provide a flexible connection which may be folded up into small space but which is capable of action throughout a relatively large range.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds. v.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation containing a schematic representation of a locomotive having associated therewith a tlexibleconnection embodying the principles of the present invention; '1

Figure 2 is a plan view of the flexible connection shown in Figure 1'; and

Figure 3 is a view, on an enlarged Scale, of theiiexible connection shown in Figure 1.

The numeral 1 indicates a locomotive and the numeral 2 indicates a smoke ack under which the stack ot a locomotive may be spotted when said locomotive is driven into a roundhouse. The numeral 3 indicates the steam dome ot the locomotive 1, said steam dome being provided with a nipple et, which nipple may projectupwardly from the steam dome 3, laterally from the side thereof, or at other angles, according to different locomotive designs. One ot the purposes ot the present invention isv to provide a flexible connection by means ot which attachment to said nipple 4 may be readily made regardless of the angle at which said nipple extends.

The numeral indicates a steam pipe, having the downwardly extending pipe 6.

clse fitting collar 6 may be provided, weld- Said pipe 6 is provided with the valve 7 andl may have the collar-8 tast thereto for torming an abutment for supporting the collar 9, which collar 9 is capable of rotation about the pipe 6 as an axis. At its lower extremity the pipe 6 is provided with thek joint member 10, which maybe referred lto hereinl asY a swivel joint. A pipe 11 has one. ot' its extremities connected to the joint 10 and has the other of its extremities connected to the elbow 12.' The pipe 11 may be provided near the elbow 12 with the collar`13 tast on said pipe 11, which collar 13 is connected to the collar 9 by means of the tie rod 14C whereby the outer extremity of pipe 11 is supported from the relatively rigid pipe 6. The joint 10 permits freedom of movement of translation of the pipe 11 about the pipe as an axis.

Theelbow 12 is provided with the downwardly extending pipe 15, whichis provided lat its lower extremity with the universal or. ball joint 16. The other side ot the ball joint 16 is connected to the horizontal pipe 17, the other end of said -pipe17 being connected tothe universal or ball joint 18. The

ball joint 18 is provided with the downwardy ly extending pipe 19, which when the pipes 11 and 17y are in parallel relation with one another mayk occupy a position in substantial alignment with the pipe 6. The lower ex tremity ofthe downwardly extending pipe 19 may be provided with the connector 20, by which a steam-tight connection may be made between the pipe 19 and the nipple 4l of the steam dome 3. The ball joints 16 and 18 each permit not only a tree kswivel movement, but also a swinging movement ot a unilll all

fit1

versal nature. vBall joints of this nature are well known and are readily purchasable in the open market.

The pipe 11 and the pipef17 may be pro-` vided with the catch members 21 and22, respectively. lVhen the flexible connection is out of use, the catch inenibers 21 and 22 may be engaged by one another, whereby the pipe 17 and the `pipe 11 will lie substantially in the saine vertical plane. 1f desired, said pipes 11 and 17 may be swung about the pipe (3' as an axis, into parallelism with the steam pipe 5, the loose collar 9 and joint 10 peimitting this movement. At this time the flexible connection will be packed4 away in unobtrusive position. When a loeoinotive lis driven into the roundliouse, the steam dome of said locomotive may or may not come close to thesteain line '5, depending upon whetheror not Athe locomotive is carefully spotted to bring said steain'doine into proximity to the steam pipe7 and also depending very largely upon the d .sign of the locomotive. According to the present invention,`it is immaterial, within a relatively great range, how closely the steam dome 3 is spotted relative to the steam line 5. It is lalso iinii'iaterial. whether 'the nipple of the steam dome is at a high or low level, or whether it extends horizontally, vertically, or in any other direction. Choosing figures from practice, the distance from the center line of pipe (3 to the` center line of pipe 15 may be .five feet. The distance from the center line of pipe 15 to the center line of pipe 19 may be an equalv length. A clearance of only about five feet is required about the pipe 6, therefore, to accommodate a coinplete rotation of pipe 11 about the pipe 6 as an axis. Such a length of pipe with the pipe 17 supported therefrom n'iay be readily opeiated by the ordinary workman. Xhen a connection is to be made to the steam dome of a locomotive, the workman will swing the pipes to such a position that the connector 2() may be readily applied tothe nipple if of the steam dome 3. .inasmuch as the ball` joints permit a universal. action, within limits, the workman may apply the connector Q0 to any nipple which will be presented in service without the exertion of exhausting efforts. Continuing with the illustrative, figures referred to above, if the distance between the center line of pipe 6 and the center liii'e Aof pipe 15 is live feet, a radius of ten ,feet may be covered when the pipe 17 is swung through an angle of180 degrees aboutpipe 15 asian axis from the position indicated in Figure 3. inasmuch as tlie pipes 11 and 17 may be moved to a position on either side ofthe 1 Means adapted to connect a relatively fixed main with a nipple, which may be presented at widely varying positions including different levels and different angles, said means including a flexible pipe line comprising a downwardly extending pipe, a Ysecondv pipe swivelly connected to said downwardly extending pipe, and means for rotatably, si1p-V porting saine fronisaid downwardly extending pipe, said second pipe being` capable of ci; l

movement about said downwardly extending pipe as an axis, a downwardly extending extension for said second pipe, a third pipe constituting an extension for said second pipe, said third pipe being universally connected to said downwardly extending pipe through said second pipe, a universal joint atA the outer extren'iity of said third pipe, a connector carried by said universal joint adapted to connect saine to a nipple at varying angles, and hook means for releasably holding said pipes in substantially theY saine vertical plane. Y.

2. Means adapted to connect a relatively xed main with a nipple which may be presented at widely varying positions including different levels and differentangles, said V means including a flexible pipe line comprising a downwardly exteipidingpipe, a second pipe, a swivel joint connecting said downwardly extending pipe and said second pipe,

means rotatably connected lwith said downwaidly extending pipe and having Aa. coiniection with said second pipe ata poin'treinote from said swivel joint for supporting said second pipe, aY downwardly extending'e'xten? sion for said second pipe, athird pipe consti.-

tuting an extension for said second pipe, a

universal joint in the line between said second and third pipe, and hook means for releasably holding said second and third pipes in substantially, the saine plane. j y j i Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 8th day of June, 1923.

'WILLIAM A.. Merian. l JAMES n. oiaiiinn.v 

